Amanda Ross and Dicavalli Diesel
The dressage phase of the Oceania Championships in Taupo, New Zealand has come to a close with Australia’s Amanda Ross riding Dicavalli Diesel leading the charge individually with a score of 28.3, seeing them atop the leaderboard.
Under the uncharacteristic New Zealand sun the duo delivered a beautiful test, which helped secure the Australian Senior Green Team second position after day one.
"I think what we all want to do when we get in the arena is feel like we have plenty of time, and it did today. I cantered around there and I could actually concentrate on letting my hand go and creating more length in his neck and presenting a picture to the judge. It was really, really cool. I have Stuart to thank for that, as well as all of my coaches, it's just this new little revelation Stuart has been amazingly helpful,” explained Ross of her winning performance.
When asked about the cross-country tomorrow Ross said “it’s meaty enough, I have to walk all of the direct lines as the crow flies because he is not as fast as Koko Popping Candy but he is very honest so I just need to know every blade of grass.”
Nipping at her heels is fellow Australian rider, Gold Team member, Emma Bishop and CP Issey Miyake with a score of 28.5.
In the Senior Team competition Australia is sitting in second and third position, with the Green Team just ahead of the Gold Team on 100.2 and 108.9 respectively.
"I think we had a great day today. The horses and riders rode really well, good scores. It is a tough track tomorrow and hopefully we can build on that and beat the New Zealanders” Chef d'Equipe Stuart Tinney said of the Team performances.
The Young Rider Team all completed their dressage tests earlier this morning, with the exception of Jordyn Faint who rode her test yesterday afternoon, with the Australian riders looking competition ready as they entered the arena.
Faint is currently the highest-ranking Australian Young Rider with a score of 32.2 and is sitting in 6th position. The Australian Young Rider Team has a score of 107.2 at the conclusion of the dressage phase and is coming in second to New Zealand, who has a score of 102.9.
Young Rider Team Chef d'Equipe Will Enzinger said “I am rapt with all of them. I met them all last Friday, with the exception of Tayah who I worked with at the last Oceania. We have not had that much time together but they have all been able to bring in some new concepts.
It is a three-day event, this is just the beginning, a few points won’t make that much of difference after tomorrow, it is a tough track. There are definitely lots of questions out there and time will be influential, there are big questions still to come and they have a lot of work ahead of them, but I am really proud of all of them for what they have been about to do today.”
The cross-country phase will take place tomorrow at the New Zealand National Equestrian Centre.
